One Thing - Part One
Disclaimer: Don't own squat.
A/N: Sorry this is starting slow. It does get better.
Passing through the gates of yet another Roman fort, Teagan sighed. This fort at Hadrian's wall looked the same. Same Roman statues, same large stone pillars. It all looked the same. And as she looked at the sameness, the same thought came to her now as she entered this fort. And every other fort before this: Why was she here? She had enough money. Why didn't she just go home? Why? She was here because she had no home to go to. These Romans whom she worked for had decimated her village, killed all her people and took her away. No, she had no home to go to.
Snorting with disgust, Teagan pushed a stray strand of hair that had come loose from its plait. Stupid hair. One of these days, she was going to just cut the damned stuff off.
Stopped by the gate guard, Teagan took notice of everything around her as the soldier checked her papers. She noticed how the fort was laid out, where the stables were, the infirmary and the tavern, where she hoped to find work.
Teagan noticed that while the Roman soldier was checking her papers, he was also leering at her. 'Typical man.' She thought. "I'm sorry, good sir. If you could be so kind as to help me find some lodging for my horse and myself, it would be appreciated." She said as sweetly as she could, trying to hurry the man along.
No such luck. The soldier took his time. His eyes roaming over just about every part of her anatomy. Teagan couldn't quite understand what was so interesting in her. Except that maybe she was new to the fort and female. She knew from experience that she would be considered fresh meat until she proved to them that she could handle herself.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the soldier finally approved her entrance and let her pass through the inner gates of the fort.
The first thing Teagan did, was secure a place for Aodh, her stallion and lodgings for herself. Quickly cleaning up, she found the tavern and was quite happy when Vanora, one of the barmaids, said they were in sore need of help and that she could start that evening.
Thanking Vanora, Teagan walked around the fort for a while, getting to know the place. 'It's always good to know where everything is.' She thought, smiling. And mostly she was enjoying the rare sunshine. After a while, she decided to rest before this evening's shift.
0o0o0o
Stepping into the tavern, Teagan was assaulted with familiar smells. Sweat, worn leather and stale ale to name a few. Though the smells were enough on their own, the sounds were what she loved best. The laughter, the jesting, and the boasting. The stories the knights or soldiers told were always good for a laugh. Most of them were highly exaggerated or completely false.
Vanora spied her and waved her over from behind the large bar. Deftly stepping around tables, bodies and groping hands, Teagan made it to Vanora, not quite out of breath.
"Hello there, love." The beautiful woman laughed. "Grab an apron, fill a pitcher and start fillin' cups." She smiled. "And Teagan? Thanks. Sometimes this place is a revolving door and I can't keep anybody. Remember, watch the hands." She bent down and came back up with a pitcher she handed to Teagan. "Sorry you won't be able to meet my Bors tonight. The knights are out on campaign and aren't expected back for a few more days."
Teagan laughed out loud, drawing nearly every eye to her. "No Vanora, I can handle the hands. Been doing this for many moons." Eyes twinkling, she picked up the cleanest apron she could find and got to work.
It wasn't really any different than the other taverns she had worked at. All had the drunks, the beautiful barmaids and handsome men. According to Jols, squire to the knights, the tavern didn't really get too boisterous until the knights came back. Though the Roman soldiers were drunk enough, they didn't have the knights to fight and compete with. Jols had informed Teagan that it was one rowdy bunch, those Sarmation Knights. Teagan could hear the admiration in his voice.
Finally, late into the night, or very early into the morning, the last patron was kicked out. Though Vanora had tried to send her home, back to her room, she decided to stay and help clean up. It gave her a chance to get to know the place better and figure out where everything was. And besides, as her only duty here was barmaid, it wasn't like she had to get up very early.
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